When you truly fight and give your best, facing unexpected outcomes in the end can be deeply disappointing.

I've been an active participant in the #zkSync ecosystem for almost three years. From the early testnet phase to zkSync Lite and eventually to mainnet, I’ve engaged with all of the network’s core features in depth. I donated via Gitcoin using zkSync, traded NFTs, used early platforms like ZigZag for perpetual DEX transactions, and actively took part in swaps, bridging, DeFi, and staking. When Maverick launched their airdrop, I immediately staked it in liquidity pools.

After all of this, my expectations were entirely positive , but the result was a complete letdown.

On Arbitrum, I received a significantly better airdrop despite doing only a tenth of what I did on zkSync. What happened with zkSync felt like a major injustice. A specific group of users was clearly favored, while honest users like myself , who stayed loyal and consistent with a single account , were completely left out.

Seeing sarcastic memes shared by a team that constantly preached “Community is everything” was especially painful. It deeply damaged the sense of belonging. People who contributed for years without expecting anything in return were simply ignored. If you give people nothing, you can't expect them to remain by your side.

To give some perspective: I once received a

200 airdrop from ZigZag years ago.On zkSync,after 3.5year sof active involvement, payingover 200 airdrop from ZigZag years ago. On zkSync, after 3.5 years of active involvement, paying over 200airdropfromZigZagyearsago.OnzkSync,after3.5yearsofactiveinvolvement,payingover

500 in gas fees and generating thousands of dollars in volume, the airdrop I received was again only $200.

Now, some might say: “Airdrops are a bonus. Teams don't owe you anything. You created your own expectations, and now you're disappointed.” Sure , that might sound logical to someone who didn’t live through this process. But zkSync’s team repeatedly referenced the airdrop in their communications. They used the word as a marketing tool, as a way to drive engagement and activity across the network. And yet, I do agree , it's important not to get too emotionally attached or place too much hope in these things, because it often ends in disappointment. And I’ve lived that firsthand.

Still, the one thing I wish for is empathy. For someone whose primary income or life focus was built around this ecosystem, who did everything they could and simply wanted to be recognized , just a little understanding would’ve meant a lot. But instead, people like us were treated like ghosts , loyal contributors rendered invisible, forgotten without a second glance.

At this point, I believe some projects are run by either ill-intentioned or unqualified people. Maybe everything that happened was a conscious decision. It hasn't been easy to recover my motivation , but I’ve chosen not to give up. I’ve chosen to keep moving forward.

My motto has always been: "Ad astra per aspera , Through hardships to the stars."